THEY have lost a bulk of last season’s under 18 premiership winning side, but Bathurst Panthers’ prospects for 2012 are still looking promising after they took out the Orange CYMS Knockout on Saturday.
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The Bathurst side went through their four games undefeated and new coach Scott Traynor could not have asked for better preparation for the season proper.
Bathurst Panthers took out the title by defeating hosts CYMS 18-6 in the final.
“They really surprised me, 17 of the 22 players we have are new to under 18s, so I was extremely happy with their performance,” Traynor said.
Three members of the winning Panthers line-up were selected in the representative sides named on the day – Group 10 and the President’s 13 – and all will play this weekend in Wellington vying for a place in the Western Rams side.
Blake Lawson and Jake Betts were selected in the Group 10 side and Mike Ingwersen in the President’s team. St Pat’s duo Andrew Adams and Campbell Scott were picked for Group 10.
Traynor was a little disappointed he did not get more players in the representative squads following strong performances in Orange, Nick Loader and Joey Bugg two the coach considered especially unlucky not to make the cut.
“I thought Nick was great, he was strong and played very well, Cowra and CYMS dominated the sides and it was no surprise as they were so strong,” Traynor said.
“I thought Nick and Joey did enough to be selected.”
Group 10 coach Craig Jeffries was at the carnival and believes competition for places in this year’s under 18s squad will ensure his side will hit the ground running at the Western Rams trials. He admitted finding his best 18-man squad at the knockout was a tough assignment.
“We probably had about four or five blokes pencilled in to each position. There were no real standouts. We picked a few blokes out of position, positions they probably wouldn’t play for their club side, but in positions I think they’ll perform well in,” he said.
The Group 10 under 18s will compete against Group 14, Group 11 and the President’s 13 side, and all are a chance of making the Western Rams outfit.
The team will have a quick preparation, training once tomorrow night.
“But hopefully we can get them prepared well enough to push their claims for a Western Division jumper. That’s the main aim, to get the kids playing at a higher level,” Jeffries said.
GROUP 10 UNDER 18s: 1 Sam Sweeting (CYMS), 2 Tom Satterthwaite (CYMS), 3 John Howarth (Oberon), 4 Hay Craig (Cowra), 5 Matt Boss (Hawks), 6 Casey Burgess (Mudgee), 7 Jayden Murray (Cowra), 8 Zac Noble (Cowra), 9 Nick O’Hara (Mudgee), 10 Andrew Adams (St Pat’s), 11 Chance Burgess (Mudgee), 12 Blake Lawson (Panthers), 13 Jake Betts (Panthers). Bench: 14 Seamus Laeyland (Cowra), 15 Ben Pettit (CYMS), 16 Cameron Jones (CYMS), 17 Campbell Scott (St Pat’s), 18 Troy Powell (Hawks).
PRESIDENT’S 13: 1 Nathan Orr (Mudgee), 2 Nick Willson (Canowindra), 3 Jarrod Robbins (Orange CYMS), 4 Sam Dwyer (Parkes), 5 Dean Willson (Canowindra), 6 Chad Porter (Parkes), 7 Jack Grant (Orange CYMS), 8 Dylan Jones (Oberon), 9 Alex Bonham (Dubbo CYMS), 10 Adam Richards (Parkes), 11 Ben Thompson (Parkes), 12 Martin Herbert (Forbes), 13 Mick Ingwersen (Bathurst Panthers). Bench: 14 Ethan Barker (Oberon), 15 Jim Delboux (Cobar), 16 Lewis Stanley (Wellington), 17 Ricky Reid (Dubbo Macquarie).